The Kemper offers control over parameters that are literally not available anywhere else, in ways that are actually USEFUL as opposed to merely replicating existing types of gear. Cab shift, direct mix, clarity etc. You're totally right, it's it's own class of audio gear.
That's the thing like a control such as "Definition" is probably adjusting quite a few parameters at the same time, in a way that is pretty musical - I can't really think of any other piece of guitar gear that does that? Might be blanking on something though....
In the amp settings, I believe the compressor is slightly different to the compressor we are use to. This sets the amount of overdrive/break up on how hard you hit the strings or turning the guitar volume down.
With other "contenders" I hit a note and then I start the tweaking that never ends....... with the Kemper I hit a note and I just keep playing, I never get to the tweaking points like you but that's OK by me. With so many presets I prefer to find 5 killer ones and just play.
Imho the cab has a hughe impact to the soundresult. The amp parameters are very helpful, but when you have to dial in so much clarity as you have shown, the profile is not propper enough. Pick and clarity are great paramters, thanks kemper that we got. Also the compressor in the amp section is great, hope everyone knows that it has nothing to do with a ‚normal‘ compressor in front of an amp. This compressor parameter in the amp section can give a lot of meat to the sound. 2.5 for cleansounds is an interesting point. Great vid man, there are soooo many cool things in this unit……..
totally agree, those parameters really makes the difference when dialing tones. The only problem I have is with the Definition parameter, it seems like on distorted tones tends to introduce a sorta “cocked wah” effect on the tone. Did you notice something similar?
You're right. The first thing I "captured" when I got my Kemper 1 month ago, was my VST plugin lead tone, which I feel confortable with for many years. Sounds strange but like you said : why not storing your favorite digital sounds also? And it came out very well actually. I was blown away. Kinda tricky to make the audio loop from the DAW but once you have it, it just works with up to 75 or 80% accuracy. Which is fine for live situations.
You know I use Kemper. For me, comparing it to the other modellers is like comparing a studio rack rig to a gigging amp and pedals; Kemper feels more “analogue”, for want of a better term
I am making some iic+ profiles and it is very good at capturing tube warmth , and valve amp qualities. I feel like it has the least latency if any of all the similar stuff I have tried. If you are not getting the tone you want and profiling sometimes it is good to use a different mic and speaker position than you normally would.
I want to treat myself to an all in one but need the most friendly unit. Fractal looks good but no idea where to get one. Then the Kemper stage but it has been around for a few years now…. Any advice?
I like that Kemper made a superb well-designed piece of hardware and keep upping the software. It feels like the other major manufacturers still feed the built in obsolesce which drives consumerism and appeals to the “am I missing out on the next best thing?” Q we all have. I can’t see me changing my Kemper Stage.
I got mine earlier this year and first thing I did was profile the amp model (FAS Brootalz) I was using on my axefx 2 with my band then decided to throw the Kemper’s built in effects into the chain (dimed treble booster) instead of capturing the drive and amp together, and the result I honestly liked better than the axefx. Not only that, but using the NRPN MIDI stuff makes for a MUCH more flexible workflow than any of the modelers I’ve owned before. The only part about the kemper that I felt was lacking was the pitch effects compared to the axefx but I got a digitech whammy and put it before the input and connected it to the kemper midi thru and control it all with an RJM Mastermind. This setup is perfect for my needs and sounds killer
I was just watching an A/B test video of the FM3 and Kemper about an hour ago and then you post this lol. I was wondering the same thing about the Kemper. The FM3, FM9, Axe III, QC, etc have all seemed to overshadow it. I'm wondering if it's because it's been out for some time now and hasn't had any upgrades like a Kemper 2.0 or something. I've heard some write it off as "old technology" but it can still sound really good. One problem I think Kemper faces is that their Stage model still sells for $1,700 new while the FM3 is $1,000 with a much smaller form factor.
I think cost has a lot to do with it. I also personally feel that modern simulated modeling simply sounds more convincing. I've been able to discern Kempers in A/B tests. They just don't capture the random chaos that occurs within a tube amp.
@@Diax1324 I agree. In that video I referred to, the FM3 sounded much better. There’s a lot of comparison videos and it always seems like the Kemper is lacking something, and I think random chaos is the perfect way to describe it. It sounds a little more fizzy and artificial.
Cost is definitely an issue. It should not cost $2,000 or more to buy a new Kemper head that has old technology. But then again, as with most technology, buying used is probably the best bet.
I disagree with the overshadow part. That is why there are so many different amps now days, it's just new stuff and some people prefer new just because its new. they all lack perfection in reproduction of original source, on top of it all, you have to (be willing to) sit down with any of them and learn what works best for your setup, technique and ear. All I have decerned from the newer gear is more "stuff", not better pure amp reproduction. Learn what you got to get great sounds, and then maybe in 20 more years, there may be something groundbreaking, it has not happened yet. A whole lot of cork sniffing going on these days.
The Kemper offers control over parameters that are literally not available anywhere else, in ways that are actually USEFUL as opposed to merely replicating existing types of gear. Cab shift, direct mix, clarity etc. You're totally right, it's it's own class of audio gear.
That's the thing like a control such as "Definition" is probably adjusting quite a few parameters at the same time, in a way that is pretty musical - I can't really think of any other piece of guitar gear that does that? Might be blanking on something though....
In the amp settings, I believe the compressor is slightly different to the compressor we are use to. This sets the amount of overdrive/break up on how hard you hit the strings or turning the guitar volume down.
With other "contenders" I hit a note and then I start the tweaking that never ends....... with the Kemper I hit a note and I just keep playing, I never get to the tweaking points like you but that's OK by me. With so many presets I prefer to find 5 killer ones and just play.
Still a great piece of gear, after all these years. I’ve had mine for about 5 years and still haven’t scratched the surface. Thanks.
That intro swell tone was amazing. Not really felt to get a kemper before but that tone alone might make me consider it!!
Are your Kemper Presets still available? Really looking to use some of the more "shoegazey" tones you achieved in this video. Great stuff John!
Stunning profile my friend Thanx for the great vids, really enjoy your work and playing !
Imho the cab has a hughe impact to the soundresult. The amp parameters are very helpful, but when you have to dial in so much clarity as you have shown, the profile is not propper enough. Pick and clarity are great paramters, thanks kemper that we got. Also the compressor in the amp section is great, hope everyone knows that it has nothing to do with a ‚normal‘ compressor in front of an amp. This compressor parameter in the amp section can give a lot of meat to the sound. 2.5 for cleansounds is an interesting point. Great vid man, there are soooo many cool things in this unit……..
totally agree, those parameters really makes the difference when dialing tones. The only problem I have is with the Definition parameter, it seems like on distorted tones tends to introduce a sorta “cocked wah” effect on the tone. Did you notice something similar?
You're right. The first thing I "captured" when I got my Kemper 1 month ago, was my VST plugin lead tone, which I feel confortable with for many years. Sounds strange but like you said : why not storing your favorite digital sounds also? And it came out very well actually. I was blown away. Kinda tricky to make the audio loop from the DAW but once you have it, it just works with up to 75 or 80% accuracy. Which is fine for live situations.
Yeh that's what I was thinking, I didn't even listen back to the FM3 tone to check the accuracy, my thought was "this is also a good tone"
Any way you can share the setup for profiling VST tones? Thanks!
You know I use Kemper. For me, comparing it to the other modellers is like comparing a studio rack rig to a gigging amp and pedals; Kemper feels more “analogue”, for want of a better term
(The Kemper is the gigging amp and pedals in the above comparison)
I am making some iic+ profiles and it is very good at capturing tube warmth , and valve amp qualities. I feel like it has the least latency if any of all the similar stuff I have tried. If you are not getting the tone you want and profiling sometimes it is good to use a different mic and speaker position than you normally would.
Any chance you can send that profile you used in this video
What Jim Mc Dougall said. One thing I would like to discover is Hou do you soften or even get rid of the Quack on a Strat?
You don't. Like why would you wanna get rid of a chick's nice pair of tits!? It makes zero sense.
Where would I download this preset? It sounds great.
Yes but are Power Sagging and Squash supposed to be?
Love the kemper with a fryette tube poweramp
love my Kemper and had forgotten about definition and clarity...also love your licks...inspiring ..thanks
Bad ass intro music. I might get your Kemper pack 👍
stage gaining , "equing" the captures... and we can do all we want. The limit today for these units is the human brain
Which is sometimes and often the brains of their software coders.
I want to treat myself to an all in one but need the most friendly unit. Fractal looks good but no idea where to get one. Then the Kemper stage but it has been around for a few years now…. Any advice?
Buy a tuner.
Kemper Stage
those opening ambient swell soundscapes were incredible and enormous! the dirt parts didn't move me the same way... great playing as always!
I like that Kemper made a superb well-designed piece of hardware and keep upping the software. It feels like the other major manufacturers still feed the built in obsolesce which drives consumerism and appeals to the “am I missing out on the next best thing?” Q we all have. I can’t see me changing my Kemper Stage.
Line 6 has done the same with helix . Constant development. I own both. I use them in tandem in a huge stereo rig
Which release you use ??
I got mine earlier this year and first thing I did was profile the amp model (FAS Brootalz) I was using on my axefx 2 with my band then decided to throw the Kemper’s built in effects into the chain (dimed treble booster) instead of capturing the drive and amp together, and the result I honestly liked better than the axefx. Not only that, but using the NRPN MIDI stuff makes for a MUCH more flexible workflow than any of the modelers I’ve owned before. The only part about the kemper that I felt was lacking was the pitch effects compared to the axefx but I got a digitech whammy and put it before the input and connected it to the kemper midi thru and control it all with an RJM Mastermind. This setup is perfect for my needs and sounds killer
I gotta check this out!!!
I use my Kemper to profile my Line 6 Helix
Damn things got bells n whistles everywhere lol , I had to start playing again because you can tweak forever on it .
Kemper for me is the best sounding machine,but hey this is just my opinion.
I was just watching an A/B test video of the FM3 and Kemper about an hour ago and then you post this lol. I was wondering the same thing about the Kemper. The FM3, FM9, Axe III, QC, etc have all seemed to overshadow it. I'm wondering if it's because it's been out for some time now and hasn't had any upgrades like a Kemper 2.0 or something. I've heard some write it off as "old technology" but it can still sound really good. One problem I think Kemper faces is that their Stage model still sells for $1,700 new while the FM3 is $1,000 with a much smaller form factor.
I think cost has a lot to do with it. I also personally feel that modern simulated modeling simply sounds more convincing. I've been able to discern Kempers in A/B tests. They just don't capture the random chaos that occurs within a tube amp.
@@Diax1324 I agree. In that video I referred to, the FM3 sounded much better. There’s a lot of comparison videos and it always seems like the Kemper is lacking something, and I think random chaos is the perfect way to describe it. It sounds a little more fizzy and artificial.
Add to the FM3 price tag an FC-6 to offer something similar to the stage and it's not $1000 anymore.
Cost is definitely an issue. It should not cost $2,000 or more to buy a new Kemper head that has old technology. But then again, as with most technology, buying used is probably the best bet.
I disagree with the overshadow part. That is why there are so many different amps now days, it's just new stuff and some people prefer new just because its new. they all lack perfection in reproduction of original source, on top of it all, you have to (be willing to) sit down with any of them and learn what works best for your setup, technique and ear. All I have decerned from the newer gear is more "stuff", not better pure amp reproduction. Learn what you got to get great sounds, and then maybe in 20 more years, there may be something groundbreaking, it has not happened yet. A whole lot of cork sniffing going on these days.